Me quedé mirandola (1945)

I Just Stood There Watching Her
lyrics by Roberto Miró
music by Vicente Spina

After a terrible year of being alone
we met again by accident
and at once the memories of better days—
when I used to sing and laugh—
marched right through my mind.
My lips began to babble with fear,
my eyes betrayed my sorrow to her,
I had so desperately longed to see her
that a lump caught in my throat
and I just stood there watching her.

All those paths I went sleepwalking down
were nothing but dead-end roads
lined with doubts and sorrows,
troubles that only make me suffer more.
But I don’t expect anything from life anymore
even now that I see her again, nothing will happen,
her vacant gaze tells me so—
that once and for all I have slain
what was left of her love.

Yesterday’s broken dream
will never come to bloom again,
though she stands before me this evening
I know that no one is there
to share my sad twilight.

The one I waited for has not truly returned
I’ve found her again but she’s already gone,
knowing that her goodbye spelled my end
she left and, from the streetcorner,
I just stood there watching her.

Orquesta Aníbal Troilo, singer Alberto Marino (1945)

Orquesta Rodolfo Biagi, singer Alberto Amor (1945)

Orquesta Lucio Demare, singer Horacio Quintana (1945)
(Audio coming soon!)

Marino does not sing the italicized verse. Amor sings neither the italicized verse nor the one below it.

(Spanish original after the jump)

Me quedé mirándola

Después de un año atroz de soledad
volvimos a encontrarnos sin querer,
de pronto los recuerdos de otros días
que cantaba y que reía
acudieron en tropel.
Mis labios balbucearon con temor,
los ojos le contaron mi dolor,
mis ansias de encontrarla fueron tantas
que oprimida la garganta
me quedé mirándola.

Inútiles senderos fueron todos
caminos recorridos sin vivir,
bordeados de dudas y dolores
y sólo sinsabores aumentan mi sufrir.
Mas, ya no espero nada de la vida
ni ahora que la encuentro puede ser,
lo dice su mirada distraída
que he matado para siempre
lo que fuera su querer.

Aquel ensueño roto del ayer
no puede ya volver a florecer,
la tengo ante mis ojos esta tarde
y comprendo que no hay nadie
en mi triste anochecer.
Ha vuelto sin llegar la que esperé
la encuentro nuevamente y ya se va,
sabiendo que en su adiós está mi ruina
se alejó y de la esquina,
me quedé mirándola.